Kenneth A. (Ken) Jarvis

THEN:			RECENT:
		"Jarv" He looks wise, pray correct the error. Band 3, 4 Chorus 2, 3, 4 Photography 3, 4 Plays 3,4 Track 4 Football 1 Goal: To pick my career wisely and enjoy it.

2007 - 45th Reunion:

FAMILY INFORMATION:

We are all healthy and doing well. Rosie and I have 11 and one-third grandkids. Our kids live in California, Texas, Arizona, South Carolina and Virginia. Trying to visit them keeps us from having too much money in savings.


WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE:

In 1994 my career with PBS ended when I returned to active duty with the Navy. I stayed on active duty until 2001 then returned to reserve status. I retired in 2004 from the Navy Reserve after 36 years. I’m still staying close to the military working as a contractor for the USMC at Quantico, VA. Rosie is a mental health counselor and stays pretty busy (keeping me sane is a full time job!!) We look forward to the time when we can be full time grandparents. I still sing with and do the narration for the Mormon Choir of Washington, DC.

We are so lucky to have grown up together in Johnston! When I think of all the experiences that we had both planned and unplanned (well…I won’t go there!) For example they’re putting on the Mikado in Washington, D.C. this summer. Of course I was reminded of when we did it at Johnston. We were such a tiny little school but we did some pretty big things.

I think the fact that we were small and that 23 of the 50 in our graduating class started kindergarten together makes us feel more like family.

My career in broadcasting can be traced directly to Mr. Oliver getting me into KDPS at Tech. I think he did it out of frustration but for whatever reason it worked. Nella Willimek gave me a foundation in music that has made life a lot more fun. I could go on and on.

The fact that I’ll miss being with you guys so much is evidence that we really are family.

Please take care of yourselves so we can all be together at the next reunion and thanks to all who are putting this together this year. I can’t wait to find out what everyone is doing.

If you every come to DC PLEASE let us know!!

2002 - 40th Reunion:

Family Information

Wife: Rosie works as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor for the county.

We have six kids and seven Grandkids

Rosie works as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor for the county.

Jeff, 33, is divorced but living in Southern California with his “ex” and their daughter. He’s an auditor for the University of California Hospital system.

Julie, 31, is married and lives in Dallas, TX. They have four children.

Adam, 29, manages a restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C.

Amy, 26, is a married mother of two. She’s an RN and works part time at an urgent care clinic. Her husband just graduated from Brigham Young University and they’re moving to Houston this summer.

Margo, 24, is a grad student at San Diego State studying Speech Pathology.

Jill, 20, will be a senior at BYU, with a major in Fitness and Wellness Management.

Work/Retirement History

I spent most of the last few years on active duty in the Navy. I was on the Navy’s missile defense team handling public relations. I stayed with the program until last fall. I’m now a contractor with BAE SYSTEMS.

I’m still a drilling Navy Reservist attached to the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Center in San Diego. I’ll probably stay with the Navy Reserves until I’m forced to retire at age 60. No sense getting out any earlier than I have to.

Life’s Highlights

After several years of me commuting every weekend from Washington, D.C. to our home in Charleston, WV Rosie and I decided to move to DC. Rosie and I now have a home in northern Virginia just 35 minutes south of D.C. We really love it here.

I always knew this class was special but I guess I didn’t know just how special until last September 11. As soon as I could get to my computer after the attack I discovered I had e-mails from many of you asking if I was ok. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. As you now know I’m fine. I was in London attending a defense conference when it all happened. I got home on the first plane to land at Dulles international after the attack.

At the time of the crash my office was just west of the Pentagon in the Navy (Pentagon) Annex. According to co-workers the plane came in right over the top of our building low enough to blow gravel off the roof and clip off an antenna. My old Pentagon office received a direct hit and was vaporized. I hope I never have to attend that many memorial services in one week again as long as I live.

I can’t attend the reunion this year because of surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I’m healing nicely but August was a little too early to be out goofing around (and you know I would be!)

I hope you had a great time together. As I said before this is a very special class…let’s keep it going!


What ever happened to? Jon Shuler and Nella Willimek (voice music teacher)?

1997 - 35th Reunion:

Since our last reunion I learned, the hard way, about West Virginia politics. I managed to get "unhired" from my job as Executive Director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. I started my own commnications consulting business and actually make money with it.

I haven't been able to spend much time consulting, however. In march, 1994 I was recalled to active duty with the Navy and have been gone most of the time since then. It's been a great way to have a mid-life crisis but only seeing my family on weekends isn't too neat.

Speaking of family; we have one child still in high school, three in college (one graduates in August), and two married. Our handicapped daughter, Emily, died in 1993 just before the 13th birthday. We anticipated it for some time but it was still quite an adjustment.

Rosie and I are getting used to the idea of being grandparents. We have two and a half grandchildren. Rosie just completed her Masters in Family Counseling. That's a major accomplishment considering that in the past couple of years she finished a B.Z., M.A., worked full-time and had me drifting in and out of her life on weekends.

Looking back over the past five years we've had some losses and some gains. However, the losses (a job, a child) have all been temporary. The gains (a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, grandchildren, education) have all been eternal. Looks like we came out ahead.

KJ

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